Visible-light-responsive ZnCuO nanoparticles: benign photodynamic killers of infectious protozoans

Abstract

Human beings suffer from several infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoans. Recently, there has been a great interest in developing biocompatible nanostructures to deal with infectious agents. This study investigated benign ZnCuO nanostructures that were visible-light-responsive due to the resident copper in the lattice. The nanostructures were synthesized through a size-controlled hot-injection process, which was adaptable to the surface ligation processes. The nanostructures were then characterized through transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, diffused reflectance spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering, and photoluminescence analysis to measure crystallite nature, size, luminescence, composition, and band-gap analyses. Antiprotozoal efficiency of the current nanoparticles revealed the photodynamic killing of Leishmania protozoan, thus acting as efficient metal-based photosensitizers. The crystalline nanoparticles showed good biocompatibility when tested for macrophage toxicity and in hemolysis assays. The study opens a wide avenue for using toxic material in resident nontoxic forms as an effective antiprotozoal treatment.

One-pot phytosynthesis of nano-silver from Mentha longifolia L.: their characterization and evaluation of photodynamic potential

“…The generation of free radicals plays an important role to increase the cytotoxic abilities of anticancer drugs. A previous report [4] suggested a direct relationship of the ROS generation with the cytotoxicity of the drugs in most of the O 2 -doped nanoparticles. Our results expressed the generation of ROS by AgNPs phyto-fabricated from M. longifolia branches aqueous extract and quantum yield was reported at 0.09 Φ ( figure 7).…”

“…The reaction was carried out into sealed quartz cuvettes with IR filter (400-800 nm) for 30 s under sunlight. After each 30 s photobleaching of the DPBF was measured by using UV-3000 Spectrophotometer for 5 min Methylene blue was used as a control [4,24].…”

“…Photo-thermal activity measurement reported no change in temperature and the temperature of the AgNPs remained constant even after 15 min of exposure to sunlight which expressed that they cannot be used as photodynamic agents to treat cancer cells ( figure 6). The previous researcher reported [4,24,31] the photothermal abilities of O 2 -doped nanoparticles e.g. Zn oxide, Fe oxide, and Cu oxide nanoparticles.…”

“…It is well known that the use of physical and chemical methods of metal reduction results in the generation of many hazardous substances. These processes are also cost-ineffective and result in the association of hazardous byproducts with the nanocore which makes them unfit for biomedical applications [3,4].…”

Thiolated PVP–Amphotericin B Complexes: An Innovative Approach toward Highly Mucoadhesive Gels for Mucosal Leishmaniasis Treatment

“…For this experiment, human macrophages were isolated by the Ficoll–Gastrografin method, as reported by Nadhman et al Briefly, macrophages were cultured in 24-well chamber culture plates along with microscopic slides to a density of 1 × 10 4 cells/well. Cells were incubated for adherence with chamber slides for 24 h. The monolayers were then infected with metacyclic leishmania promastigotes at a ratio of 10:1 (parasite/macrophage) and were incubated at 37 °C for 7 days.…”